Improvement in sewing-machine tables



T. W. MORRISON. Sewing-Machine Tables` Patented June10, 18,73.`

Uivrrnn STATES THOMAS W. MORRISON, OF NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW' JERSEY.

lwlF'RovEMlzNTl lNlsEwlNG-MACHINE TABLES. i

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 139,805, dated June 10,1873 application filed' April 17, 1873.

To all uhom it may concern:

`Be it known that I, THOMAS W. MORRISON, of New Brunswick, in the countyof Middlesex and State of New Jersey, have invented anImprovementinApplying Sewing-Machines to their Tables, of which thefollowing is a specification The object of this invention is to enable asewing-machine table to be employed for ordinary purposes when themachine is not in use. To this end it consists in a table having anopening in which the bed and plate of the machine is so pivoted as torender it capable of being swung into position for work, or into aninverted position, so that the under side of its bed-plate is uppermostand closes the opening in the. table. Bolts or other appendages are usedto secure the machine in position. It also consists in the combination,with the bedplate of the machine, of a leaf or flap hinged to one edgeof the plate, whereby not only is a cover, which may resemble thematerial of i which the table is made, afforded to the machine whenturned upside down, but also there is a brace constituted which assistsin retaining the machine in position when it is arranged for work. Italso consists in the combination, with a machine thus pivoted to itstable, of a stand 'havin g a central post `or column containing theily-wheel, whereby the strain of the belt is diverted to a point in linewith the trunnions of the machine-bed, and stability to the machine thussupported is ai'orded.

v In the accompanying drawing, Figure lis a central vertical section ofthe machine and table, taken longitudinally through the manehine, andrepresenting it in position for work. Fig. 2 Vis a like view, showingthe machine turned upside down; and Fig. 3 is a vertical section takentransversely through the machine.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all threefigures.

A is the stand of the table. It consists of a number of legs convergingall toward a central column, and a series of branches or armsdivaricatin g from said column so as to support the table top B atremote points, and thereby atfordit stability. This column, just alludedto, is slotted to receive the ily-wheel G of the sewing-machine, and therod connecting the fit in bearings in the adjacent portion of the tableB, and support the machine in such manner that it may be revolved to`occupy either a position for work` or to occupy a reverse position.Bolts D D, arranged 011 the under side ofthe table, project under theend edges ofthe bed-plate ot' the machine and retain it in position. Theends of these bolts I prefer to bevel off, so that as the bed-platemoves up from under the table it can push the bolts back and pass them.Springs are applied to the bolts to shoot them forward under themachine. There is hinged to one of the ends of the bed-plate, by meansof lugs projecting some distance therefrom, a flap or leak', E, whichwill be made of the same kind of wood as the table-top, and when theposition of the machine is reversed to lie bottom upmost will cover themechanism of the machine, -and will ll the cavity in the table top andcause it to resemble an ordinary center table. When the machine is in aposition for use this lap drops down and rests on the top of the columnforming part of the stand A, and affords a very rigid and stable supportfor that end of the machines bed-plate to which it is attached.`Thedriving-pulley of i the machine thus supported should be arf' rangedas near the trunnions as possible, so that the strain occasioned by thebelt will not tend to tip the machine over, but will be sustained by thetrunnions. Acase or shield, G, is secured to the under side of the tableso. as to envelop the machine when turned downward and protect it fromdust and injury, and likewise to preserve the operators clothes fromdamage occasioned by the grease on the machine. This case or shield maybe furnished with a door on its front to enable the machinery to bereached if necessary. A

After using the machine the drivin g-belt is slipped off and theright-hand bolt is pulled from under the adjacent edge of the bed-plateofthe machine, and the latter, is then swung` i PATNT OFFICE.

over to present its bed-plate uppermost, and as it swings up the leaf Efolds over on said plate, and not only conceals the mechanism from viewbut ts flush with the top of the table, and causes it to present theappearance of an ordinary table.

It may sometimes be preferable to have the cover E separate from thebed-plate of the machine, and on machines having the rectangular tables,commonly in use, the cover may be made to serve as an extension-leafwhile the machine is in use. The bolts D might be furnished withcam-holders for retaining them out away from the recess in the table-topWhile the machine is being turned, so as to avoid the necessity forholding them all the while, and to afford leave for both hands to engagein turning the machine.

The turning of the machine affordsan advantage other than those alreadymentioned. It enables the mechanism of the machine to be cleaned withmuch greater convenience than when the machine is rigidly secured to thetable, or when hinged to it by one edge to enable it to drop under outof sight.

It is of great moment that the fly-Wheel of a machine thus arranged besituated as nearly under its supporting trunnions as possible, so as toobviate all undue strain thereon. This can in nowise be done so well asby means of so efficient in bracing the table atdiierent points thatgreat stability is by it afforded to the machine.

On some machines trunnionscould be ad! vantageously arranged on the endsof the bedplate, and in that case the retaining bolts, and likewise theiap E, would be arranged in corresponding positions relatively to thetrunnions. Y

What I claim as my invention isl. The combination of the sewing-machine,pivoted centrally within a hole in its table, as described, so as to -becapable of revolving or swinging upside down belownthe table, and thebolts for retaining it in position, substantially as and for the purposeherein set forth.

2. The combination, with the bed-plate of the machine thus pivoted, ofthe iiap or leaf E hinged thereto, as specified, essentially as and forthe purpose described.

3. The combination, with the machine, pivoted at the middle, asdescribed, of a stand having a central stem or column containing theily-wheel, whereby the downward strain produced by the driving-belt isbrought into a line para-l el with the supporting-trunnions,substantially as specified.

Witnesses:

MICHAEL RYAN, D. L. MIsELL.

